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Study Bibles– The Most Convenient Tool in the Box

Bible Study Tools Part 2

Bible Study Tools: Part 2

Study Bibles provide a wealth of essential information in a portable package and are often a new Christian’s first investment. There are numerous options and picking the “best” study Bible can be challenging. Many are addressed to specific audiences (women, men, teens, recovery, charismatic, etc.), so what is best for you at one stage of your journey may not be a good fit in another season of life.

Some study Bibles are attached to only one version. Some are theologically narrow (e.g., Reformation Study Bible), while others are more comprehensive and offer various positions on controversial passages (e.g., ESV Study Bible). The way to find the right one is to compare them and ask yourself what you are looking for in a study Bible.

Two of the best study Bibles for new believers are the Life Application Bible (available with KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT, NASB, NRSV) and the Gospel Transformation Bible (ESV only). Neither spends a lot of time on history, culture, or etymology. The emphasis is on living out the Christian faith in our day-to-day lives. Both answer the question, “How does this passage apply to me?” Readers who are familiar with the fundamentals of Christianity may find some of the entries too basic, but they are good reminders of our identity in Christ. I recommend application-oriented study Bibles to both new and seasoned believers.

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A Reliable Bible– The Most Important Tool in the Box

Bible study tools part 1

Bible Study Tools: Part 1

The Bible is a complex book that often generates more questions than answers. Thankfully, we’re not left on our own to sort things out. God has given us many tools we can use to build our faith and gain wisdom. In the coming weeks we will look at various study aids, discuss their value, and put together a small library of the best resources.

Today we’ll discuss the first and most important implement in the toolbox: an English text that effectively communicates God’s Word. The book we call the Bible is actually a collection of 66 books that are divided into two parts. The Old Testament was originally written in ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in Koine Greek. These languages have not been in use for centuries, and scholars disagree about everything from word/phrase definitions to the reliability of the various ancient copies of the text. As a result, numerous ways to translate the Scriptures have appeared. Most fall into one of three categories:

  • Word-for-word translations (also known as formal equivalency translations) replace the words of the original language with the closest English language equivalents. Examples include the English Standard Version (ESV), New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), New King James Version (NKJV), and the venerable King James Version (KJV).

  • Thought-for-thought translations (also known as dynamic equivalency translations) attempt to convey the meaning of the original sentences and phrases. Examples include the New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), Today’s English Version (TEV), Contemporary English Version (CEV), and the New Century Version (NCV).

  • Idiomatic translations (also known as paraphrases) attempt to convey the meaning of the original text in colloquial language. Examples include The Message (MSG) and The Living Bible (TLB).

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When a Christian wanders from the truth

When a Christian wanders from the truth

James–Part 29

Most letters written 2,000 years ago concluded with personal greetings and blessings, but James ended his with a call to action:

My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders from the truth and is brought back, know this–whoever brings the wandering sinner back will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
James 5:19-20

James’s letter contains many warnings about sin, and one thing is clear: all of us are susceptible to it, so it is appropriate to close the letter with an encouragement to live in God’s truth. James speaks of truth in broad terms–anything and everything involved in the gospel. There will be times when we wander from the truth, and there will be times when friends and loved ones will go astray. When that happens, those still on the path are to extend a helping hand.

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How to pray effectively

How to pray effectively

James–Part 28

Sometimes we pray for a loved one who is ill and the person gets better. Other times we pray and things get worse. It seems that God grants some prayer requests and ignores others. Why? James has already mentioned one reason: “when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives” (4:3). Our requests are sometimes denied because our intentions are selfish. God does not simply hear our pleas; he considers our motives. James revisits the subject at the end of his letter and gives us the dual key to an effective prayer life: righteousness and persistence.

Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will make the sick well, and the Lord will raise them up. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being just like us, and yet when he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, no rain fell for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky sent down rain and the earth produced its crops.
James 5:14-18

The specific application here is to prayers for healing, but the principles of persistence and righteousness are relevant to all prayers. James uses Elijah, one of the most powerful prophets of the Old Testament, as his example. The Book of Kings recounts how Elijah defeated the king of Israel with one weapon–prayer. He told King Ahab, “there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word,” and there was drought for three and a half years. The prophet’s attitude toward prayer is revealed after the Lord instructed him to tell the king the drought would soon end. Ahab went out to celebrate, but Elijah got on his knees and continued to pray. Time and again he sent his servant to check the sky for clouds, and when none were reported, Elijah went right back to praying. After seven prayer sessions, the prophet’s perseverance was rewarded and God sent the rain.